Day 0 Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2026 | Approach Trail to Three Forks

So it's day one of my Appalachian Trail True Hike, and I cannot believe I'm saying that. It's February 9th, 2026, and this is a 30-year, nearly 30-year dream finally coming true. It doesn't feel like me living it, because it's always been so far out in the future, and it's hard to believe that it's actually my reality. I am just, gosh, I feel just blissful tonight. 10 out of 10 day. Larry brought me here early this morning, or brought me to Amicalola State Park, and Jennifer, my dad's wife, also came. She wanted to send me off, which was just so sweet that she wanted to do that and make the trip. They hiked with me for about the first three quarters of a mile until the infamous steps that parallel Amicalola Falls start. We knew that it would probably be a little bit rough on Ivy's feet. They're metal grate steps. It's not like a wooden step, and so dogs' paws don't do so great on those. But it was a bit of an emotional send-off at that point, as I knew I was about to leave their company. But all those steps, I think it's like 600 of them, took my mind off of it quickly, and I had to focus on that. And then the approach trail, which was, it bounces along and undulates, but you know, of course, it's mostly climbing, because you're going to the summit of a mountain. So I got to that summit, Springer Mountain, around three o'clock, I think, and just a gorgeous day. It was in the 50s today, not a cloud in the sky. There wasn't any type of wind. It just, it was perfect. So I sat there at the monument for a bit and met another guy who just started his through hike, a young guy, and I never called his name. But then I met another man in the parking lot at Springer Mountain Trailhead, and he has just recently retired from the military. I don't, I can't remember what branch he said, if he even said it, but what I do remember is the 60 pounds he's carrying on his back. He was asking me all kinds of questions about my back, and when he asked me how much it weighed, and I told him 25 pounds, I think he just was about to give up all hope. But he'll figure it out, and I told him he would. I said, you're going to shed some weight quick. He's like, oh yeah, I'm sure I will shed some weight carrying all this. I said, no, not you. You'll shed some of that back weight, because you're not going to carry things like that camp chair once you, uh, you know, have the chance to get rid of it. At least he shouldn't. I doubt he will, but super nice guys. So, um, I'm camped tonight. I came on about four and a half miles past the Summit of Springer. I'm camped at Three Forts. I wanted to just be myself tonight. I could have stayed at a shelter with both of those gentlemen probably, but I just kind of wanted this night all to myself, and it's just been gorgeous outside too. So, I think it's only like eight o'clock, so I've got some time to kill before I get sleepy, but I think I'm just gonna ruminate on the day a little bit more, and look at my pictures, and look at the mileage I want to cover tomorrow. I covered about 13 and a half today, and I feel good. I'm so out of shape. So, I wasn't expecting to feel good, but I do, and I'm sure tomorrow I'll feel a little bit more, a little more fatigued, but it'd be nice if I could cover, you know, 12 to 14. We'll see how it goes.